Context
While the district’s Spatial Plan identifies Frankton Flats as the district’s future principal metropolitan centre, councillors and the Queenstown Lakes District community remain woefully uninformed of the opportunity and benefits this would deliver.
The Spatial Plan was mandated by the government and is developed as a partnership between Central Government, Kāi Tahu, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
In our Annual Plan submission, we ask Council to plan and budget for research and analysis to understand the climate mitigation benefits such urban density offers.
QLDC Annual Plan hearing
May 25, 2022
Kia ora. I am John Hilhorst representing FlightPlan2050.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our written submission to the draft Annual Plan – Mahere ā tau.
In it, we made three points. The first two focused on Council’s financial commitment to climate change. These requests are straightforward, so I’ll take them as read.
Today, I’d like to focus on our third request:
We asked that the Annual Plan include an undertaking to evaluate the emissions reduction possible through the complete urbanisation of Te Kirikiri / Frankton.
We provided a detailed analysis to support this request. With a third of global emissions coming from urban settlements, our submission highlighted the IPCC’s challenge to city government. The panel emphasised that “the largest mitigation opportunities are in rapidly urbanising areas where urban form and infrastructure are not locked-in.” That describes us, the Queenstown Lakes District. And it directly tasks this Council, as urban planning and infrastructure are its core functions.
The urban densification of Frankton Flats is our best strategy to mitigate climate change.
Our submission outlined why.
While our submission focused on climate change, we have prepared equally compelling cases that the urbanisation of Frankton would address all the significant issues facing our district.
Developing a beautiful, high-density town at Frankton would:
- improve districtwide housing affordability,
- resolve the Wakatipu’s transport issues,
- ensure long-term economic prosperity,
- enhance and protect the district’s outstanding environment, and
- increase social well-being.
It would significantly enhance Council revenues and balance sheet, and - it would also future-proof the district’s air connectivity.
But you won’t know the strength of these cases. Because, in the 2 ½ years of this Council, it has neither asked for, nor been given, any research or analysis that might properly inform you.
We think Council’s choice to ignore this option is increasingly unacceptable. In the face of tourism risk, high population growth and climate change, the district’s business-as-usual model is not viable in the long-term. It is broadly accepted that fundamental structural change is needed.
The proposed airport near Tarras presents a credible alternative for continued air connectivity. It’s time to investigate how that proposed airport could positively benefit our district.
Council is in the driving seat. It controls the District Plan and organises the Spatial Plan. It owns the airport company, which owns most of Frankton Flats, the very place where we could build a wonderful town.
We submit that Council can no longer ignore this proposal. At the very least, it must seek more information.
And we ask that you start that process with this Annual Plan. Our written submission sets out how you could achieve this, with actionable tasks and appropriate funding options.
In this way, you can ensure that the next elected Council has the information they will need for these crucial, strategic decisions.
Thank you for your time, and I’m happy to take any questions.
Ngā Mihi